I've seen B Westerns with "Wild Bill" Elliot and "Rocky" Lane, but I've never seen a Red Ryder movie. Today, the character seems to be remembered more for the BB gun than the comic strip or the movies.

I've seen "Stagecoach to Denver," "Rustlers of Devil's Canyon," and "Vigilantes of Boom Town" on YouTube. They were fairly typical 1940's "B" Westerns. They were played straight. Besides Bobby Blake as Little Beaver, there was a Gabby Hayes/Fuzzy St. John-type "old coot" sidekick, called "Blizzard" or "Breezy," or something similar, and he provided the usual comedy relief.

AHMM July/Aug 2016

AHMM May 2015

A Black Dog Book

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When not blogging, I write mysteries and historical adventure. I am the proud (and mighty dang lucky) recipient of the Mystery Writers of America 2011 Robert L. Fish Award. My AHMM story "The Continental Opposite" was nominated for a Shamus award and selected for The Best American Mystery Stories 2016.